WSDOT kicking off New Year with construction

WSDOT kicking off New Year with construction

SEATTLE — The first major freeway closure on southbound Interstate 5 is scheduled for Jan. 4-7. The Washington State Department of Transportation said this will be the first of nearly 20 weekend closures in Seattle that will run until April.

According to WSDOT crews will:

Replace 31 expansion ramps linking I-5, the West Seattle Bridge and Columbian Way and one joint on northbound I-5, south of the ramps.

Grind and smooth three lanes of southbound I-5 between 50th Street and Roanoke Street in the University District and add durable striping in each direction of I-5 between Northgate and Roanoke Street.

Replace timber on the old Highway 99 bridge over Spokane Street south of the West Seattle Bridge.

Replace bridge expansion joints and repave the ramp on northbound I-5 to Spokane Street (the West Seattle Bridge) and northbound and southbound I-5 off-ramps at Corson Avenue.

WSDOT said the four construction projects will cost less than $30 million. Traffic engineers coordinated with the city of Seattle, Eastside and the south Sound, sports teams and event planners to avoid overlapping construction and detours.